Whats the most powerful laser you can potentially design and build at home?

[LightBeamConcentrate]

I'm still learning a lot of stuff about this hobby, and at this point I could probably easily build my own laser at home if I had all the right components, but I wouldnt know where to start without diagrams and instructions. I'm sure there are many people here than can practically build lasers blindfolded from memory.

But since I dont fully understand the science behind it, and I haven't built a laser myself, and have not studied the components necessary to build a laser, I have no idea how far you can go with these things, or how powerful they can be built at home by a private citizen.

I'd imagine it is entirely dependent on component availability, and maybe depends on the limits of your power source(?)

So what is possible at this time?:thinking:

**Newly added question: What is the most powerful laser you can shoehorn into a portable package, say under 3.5" diameter and under 18" long?

 

[ARG]

Anything is possible really, depending on the amount of cash you have :eg:

Within the realm of possibility though a CO2 laser, or a IR diode bar would probably be the most powerful laser a hobbiest could afford + build

 

[RyanElectro]

a 4W 445nm laser is possible now.